Two families are trying to move their civil registration to Mount Lebanon using documents suspected of forgery, prompting complaints to the interior minister over alleged pressure from a senior security official.
Two families have initiated attempts to transfer their civil registration to Mount Lebanon district using documents that are suspected to be forged, including residence affidavits and a mukhtar's statement. The effort has prompted formal complaints and appeals to Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar, with allegations that some of the paperwork and information submitted contain forged elements.
The complainants say they have raised the matter repeatedly with the Interior Ministry and say they have evidence of document forgery. They argue that one of the families seeking the transfer includes a senior officer in a Lebanese security agency, and they claim this person is using his position to pressure officials and obstruct the case.
According to the complainants, the handling of the matter violates Article 40 of the law governing civil status records. They have called on Interior Minister al-Hajjar to intervene, stop any overreach, and apply the law equally to all citizens without exception or deference to influence or interference.
The Interior Ministry has not yet made a final determination. The file remains contested between the two sides, with the complainants framing the case as a test of whether the law applies uniformly or whether security connections can shield someone from scrutiny.
The complainants have specifically appealed to al-Hajjar's known reputation for integrity, asking him to ensure that no official uses rank or connections to bypass legal requirements. They describe the alleged pressure as part of a pattern in which powerful individuals seek exceptions to civil law.
The case hinges on the authenticity of the residence affidavits and the mukhtar's statement submitted as part of the registration transfer. If forgery is confirmed, it would constitute a serious criminal matter separate from the administrative question of whether the transfer should proceed.
The complainants say the delay in resolving the matter, despite complaints filed, itself indicates improper pressure. They argue that a straightforward investigation of the documents would quickly establish whether they are genuine, and that the ongoing ambiguity suggests someone is blocking a proper review.
Interior Minister al-Hajjar has not publicly commented on the specific case. His office has made no statement confirming receipt of the complaints or outlining the steps being taken to verify the documents.
The outcome will depend on whether officials in the Interior Ministry order a forensic examination of the disputed documents and whether any senior security officer involved faces scrutiny equal to any other citizen. The case illustrates the tension between civil law and institutional power when compliance with registration law requires action that might implicate someone in a security apparatus.
